The University of Denver Pioneers (1-0-2, NCHC 0-0-0-0) outshot the Lake Superior State University Lakers (1-2-2, WCHA 0-0-0) 66-17, but tied the Lakers, 3-3, on Friday in Magness Arena.
Prior to the game, Denver raised the 2017 National Championship banner.
Despite outshooting the Lakers, 17-7, in the first period, the Pioneers fell behind at 18:18 of the opening frame when Brayden Gelsinger took a pass from Max Humitz and connected for a power-play goal. J.T. Henke had the secondary assist on the goal that gave Lake Superior State a one-goal lead at the first intermission.
Less than three minutes into the second period, Max Humitz extended the Lakers’ lead to 2-0 with a wrap-around play that beat Pioneers goalie Tanner Jaillet. Denver continued to pepper Lake Superior State goalie Nick Kossoff with shots until, at 10:46 of the second period, Henrik Borgström caught a net-front pass from Colin Staub and scored his third goal in two (2) games.
Early in the third period, Dylan Gambrell shook through two Lakers defensemen on his way to the net, but Kossoff nixed the scoring chance. At 11:58 of the third period, Gambrell changed his fortune after catching a long pass from Henrik Borgström and putting a backhander past Kossoff to make it 2-2.
Shortly after the equalizer, Jake Hand put Lake Superior in front again, but the Lakers’ advantage would hold for only two (2) minutes before Liam Finlay caught a puck in front of the net and pumped it past Kossoff to send the game to overtime.
Neither team scored in overtime. To prepare for NCHC competition later this season, the teams participated in a five-minute three-on-three overtime where Jarid Lukosevicius scored the deciding goal.
Denver finished 0/4 on the power play and 0/1 on the penalty kill.
Jaillet finished with 14 saves.
